A LOCAL travel agent has revealed the top places that Scottish holidaymakers have booked for 2024 so far this year.

January has seen a boom in holiday bookings so far with Barrhead Travel estimating that this month could be one of their busiest months on record.

So far, Tenerife, Mallorca and Alicante are on the list of top destinations booked for 2024, with Dalaman and Antalya also very popular choices.

Barrhead Travel has said the following destinations are among the top ones booked for 2024 so far:

  • Tenerife
  • Mallorca
  • Alicante
  • Dalaman
  • Antalya
  • Lanzarote
  • Orlando
  • Cruising from Southampton
  • Barcelona
  • Barbados

Typically, holidaymakers often take advantage of early booking discounts and deals during this period.

So far, this year has shown that all-inclusive holidays are still the preferred choice, accounting for more than 35 per cent of bookings.

Coupled with this high demand is the evident growth of cruising holidays, especially amongst families and couples.

The top travel destinations for Scottish vacationers in 2024 are a mix of European hotspots such as Tenerife and Alicante, along with cruising holidays from Southampton.

The travel agency recorded a 30 per cent increase in holidaymakers under 40 choosing to cruise.

Trends have also shown that touring and adventure-type holidays are on the up with a 110 per cent increase compared to 2023.

The average length of stay has also increased from nine days to ten.

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Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, said: "This time of year remains the most popular time to book a holiday.

"Cold weather, dark nights, and the festivities behind us, it’s clear that many people want something to look forward to.

"There has been a gradual trend of customers booking earlier – both to take advantage of early booking deals and discounts as well as to secure availability for their preferred date and destination.

"Getting the best value-for-money is top priority for people and we’re seeing a move towards all-inclusive breaks as well as cruising and escorted touring which have so much included in the price."

She continued: "We know how important holidays are to people, and we are seeing demand for multigenerational holidays continue to rise as people go away as part of a large family group to make the most of spending time together.

"From taking advantage of these early deals, to financial protection and general peace of mind, we’re seeing a mass return to reputable travel agents.

"This demonstrates just how important high street retail culture is and we hope it will continue to grow in 2024."

Barrhead Travel operates seven days. People can find more information on the Barrhead Travel website: Barrhead Travel Holidays - Online Travel Agents.